Big Two (Chinese Card Game)

This project implement a Chinese card game called Big Two. You can refer to the rules here.

The project makes use of OO design, GUI design, networking and multi-threading.

The following rules are adopted in this implementation:

• A standard 52 card pack is used.
• The order of ranks from high to low is 2, A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3.
• The order of suits from high to low is Spades, Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds.
• There are always four players in a game.
• Each player holds 13 (randomly assigned) cards at the beginning of the game.
• The player holding the Three of Diamonds will begin the game by playing a hand of legal
combination of cards that includes the Three of Diamonds.
• Players take turns to play by either playing a hand of legal combination of cards that beats the last hand of cards played on the table, or by passing his turn to the next player.
• A hand of legal combination of cards can only be beaten by another better hand of legal combination of cards with the same number of cards.
• A player cannot pass his turn to the next player if he is the one who played the last hand of cards on the table. In this case, he can play a hand of any legal combination of cards regardless of the last hand he played on the table.
• The game ends when any of the players has no more cards in his hand.

Legal combinations of Cards

• Single. This hand consists of only one single card. The only card in a single is referred to as the top card of this single. A single with a higher rank beats a single with a lower rank. For singles with the same rank, the one with a higher suit beats the one with a lower suit.

• Pair. This hand consists of two cards with the same rank. The card with a higher suit in a pair is referred to as the top card of this pair. A pair with a higher rank beats a pair with a lower rank. For pairs with the same rank, the one containing the highest suit beats the other.

• Triple. This hand consists of three cards with the same rank. The card with the highest suit in a triple is referred to as the top card of this triple. A triple with a higher rank beats a triple with a lower rank.

• Straight. This hand consists of five cards with consecutive ranks. For the sake of simplicity, 2 and A can only form a straight with K but not with 3. The card with the highest rank in a straight is referred to as the top card of this straight. A straight having a top card with a higher rank beats a straight having a top card with a lower rank. For straights having top cards with the same rank, the one having a top card with a higher suit beats the one having a top card with a lower suit.

• Flush. This hand consists of five cards with the same suit. The card with the highest rank in a flush is referred to as the top card of this flush. A flush always beats any straights. A flush with a higher suit beats a flush with a lower suit. For flushes with the same suit, the one having a top card with a higher rank beats the one having a top card with a lower rank.

• Full House. This hand consists of five cards, with two having the same rank and three having another same rank. The card in the triplet with the highest suit in a full house is referred to as the top card of this full house. A full house always beats any straights and flushes. A full house having a top card with a higher rank beats a full house having a top card with a lower rank.

• Quad. This hand consists of five cards, with four having the same rank. The card in the quadruplet with the highest suit in a quad is referred to as the top card of this quad. A quad always beats any straights, flushes and full houses. A quad having a top card with a higher rank beats a quad having a top card with a lower rank.

• Straight Flush. This hand consists of five cards with consecutive ranks and the same suit. For the sake of simplicity, 2 and A can only form a straight flush with K but not with 3. The card with the highest rank in a straight flush is referred to as the top card of this straight flush. A straight flush always beats any straights, flushes, full houses and quads. A straight flush having a top card with a higher rank beats a straight flush having a top card with a lower rank. For straight flushes having top cards with the same rank, the one having a top card with a higher suit beats one having a top card with a lower suit.

Graphical User Interface

• A panel showing the cards of each player as well as the cards played on the table.
• For each player, the panel shows his/her name and an avatar for him/her.
• For the active player, the panel shows the faces of his/her cards.
• The program allow the active player to select and deselect his/her cards by mouse clicks. The selected cards are in a “raised” position.
• “Play” button for the active player to play the selected cards.
• “Pass” button for the active player to pass his/her turn to the next player.
• A text area shows the current game status as well as end of game messages.
• “Restart” menu item for restarting the game.
• “Quit” menu item for quitting the game.

Deployment

First run BigTwoServer.java to establish a game server

Then run four BigTwoClient.java and respectively connect to server to start a new game

A sample window is shown below.

Authors

• Kennoth Wong - Initial work

• Zach Lyu (Lv Ruyi) - Details are commented in the files

Acknowledgments

• The card images were downloaded from https://www.waste.org/~oxymoron/cards/
• The avatar icons were downloaded from http://www.123freeicons.com/super-heroes-sigma-style-icons/#.Vuf0DOJ95aQ